Off-Duty Officer Fatally Shoots Unarmed Marine

[PavePusher]

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/23810790/detail.html?hpt=T2

BALTIMORE --

Brown Family
Tyrone Brown
An off-duty Baltimore City police officer fatally shot an unarmed Marine 13 times outside a nightclub early Saturday.

According to Baltimore City police, Tyrone Brown -- a 32-year-old Marine who has served two tours of duty in Iraq -- was shot 13 times at close range. He died a short time later.

Baltimore police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said the officer shot and killed Brown, saying Brown made advances toward a woman who was with the officer.

"After the advances, the officer and the individual exchanged words," Gugliemi said. "There was an argument, and the altercation turned physical. At that point, the officer pulled out his service weapon and fired multiple shots at our victim."

SNIP

The officer, who Guglielmi said is a 15-year veteran, has not been named. Police said they are investigating whether alcohol was a factor. The officer declined to take an alcohol breath test.

Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III has ordered his senior commanders to oversee the investigation. Guglielmi said the officer was being questioned, which is customary in shootings involving an officer.

Officers typically carry their service weapons while off-duty in Baltimore, but Guglielmi said they should not be carrying their guns if they intend to become intoxicated.





Waiting for more info, but this doesn't put the officer in a good light so far. I thought they were the only ones who could be trused with firearms?

[jeepnstein]

1. Night Clubbing with his duty weapon?

Way back when I first got my badge I was given a list of establishments that were "off limits". We were generally expected to carry 24/7 everywhere we went but if we were caught in the off limits zone the very least one could expect was a meeting with the Sheriff. Now we are expected to carry in accordance with the CCW law that is applicable to all citizens with a few additional limits to cover our department. I can guarantee you that you will still get called in for a meeting if you're hanging out in the "wrong" places. If you don't like it, hand over the badge.

Carrying a firearm requires a strong measure of responsibility. I'm betting the officer's department barbecues him over this one.

[TheDebbieDee]

2. The fact that the off-duty officer fired more than one shot

convinces me that the officer criminally over-reacted!

[TheCowsCameHome]

3. Alcohol a factor? Gee, do you suppose there's a link?

Loaded people and loaded guns. Nice combo.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

4. "The officer declined to take an alcohol breath test..." ???!!!

What? Someone gets shot at/outside a club. Alcohol involment is suspected.
The shooter is ALLOWED to decline a breathalyzer in the wake of killing an unarmed man.

That is outrageuos.

[gorfle]

5. That is freedom.

Do you really want to go down the slope of government-mandated medical procdures?

Even with a DUI you can usually refuse the breathalyzer. You automatically lose your license, but you can refuse the test.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

6. What do mean"go down the slope"?

We've been down the slope for quite some time. If the citizens have to comply with an alcohol test on-demand (or loose the presumption of innocence) then the cops should have the same rules apply to them. What's good for the goose is good for the gander.

Is it a citizen's right to decline a breathalyzer test outside of a bar-shooting?
If so then I have no issue with a cop declining a test under similar circumstance.
Call me a skeptic, but something tells me if I declined a breathalyzer test after aerating some punk outside of a nightclub I'd be pretty fooked.

[gorfle]

8. That's what I was trying to explain.

Is it a citizen's right to decline a breathalyzer test outside of a bar-shooting?

I believe so. This may vary by state.

But in many placed I know you can refuse a breathalyzer when pulled over for DUI.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

9. Often, at least related to trafic, the refusal of a breathalyzer

costs you the presumption of innocence and is accomanied by fines/penalties worse than simply getting a DUI. Sure, when refusing sobriety tests you aren't "driving drunk" but that makes little difference when you still ahve to pay hundreds in fines and take the bus for the next 6 months.

If (drunk) shootings are analogous to driving drunk, refusal of sobriety should be accompanied by a basic presumption that the operator is drunk.

[gorfle]

10. I do not believe this is so.

My brother in law got pulled over for DUI in Georgia. He refused the breathalyzer.

They do NOT presume you are intoxicated. Yes, you automatically loose your driver's license, but they cannot prove you were intoxicated.

He got a lawyer that got him off. It was possible because there was no evidence of intoxication.

[krispos42]

7. Seems to me that getting a warrant for a blood test would have been fast and easy

And more accurate than a breathalyser test.

[SteveM]

11. In Austin, the APD has begun a policy of "no refusal." Which means force...

If you are picked up on a "no refusal _____________ (fill in a holiday or whatever)," the police can forcibly detain a suspect and have blood drawn by force. Evidently, our increasingly over-reaching police department has little use for the 5th's protection against self-incrimination.